Basic vs. Python: Numeric Guessing Games
Calculators Used
Basic: Casio fx-702P
Python: Casio fx-CG100
Task
Generate two simple number guessing games.
Guess the Number
This is the classic guess the number. The game generates a number (positive integer) at random in a given range. The player guess the number and if it doesn’t match the target number, the player is told whether the target number is lower or higher. The objective is to find the target number in the lowest number of turns.
The pricing game, The Clock Game, from the legendary game show The Price Is Right uses the Guess the Number game for two prizes. The Clock Game, the contestant needs to get the three-digit price correct for each prize within a total of 30 seconds, with the host (Drew Carey or the late Bob Barker) informing the contest whether the correct price is higher or lower.
The code is for a game where the target integer is between 10 and 99.
BASIC: Casio fx-702P
10 PRT "GUESS THE NUMBER"
20 T=INT (RAN#*90+10)
30 C=0
40 G=0
100 INP "GUESS (10-99)",G
110 IF G<10 THEN 100
115 IF G>99 THEN 100
120 C=C+1
130 IF G<T;PRT "HIGHER"
140 IF G>T;PRT "LOWER"
150 IF G=T THEN 200
160 GOTO 100
200 PRT "CORRECT! THE # IS ";T
210 PRT "# GUESSES: ";C
PYTHON: Casio fx-CG100
Script: numguess.py
from random import *
print("Guess the number ")
t=int(random()*90+10)
c=0
g=0
# != means not
while t!=g:
g=int(input("Guess (10-99)? "))
c+=1
if g<t:
print("HIGHER")
if g>t:
print("LOWER")
# exact guess leaves the loop
print("CORRECT! The # is "+str(t)+".")
print("# of guesses: "+str(c))
The major difference between the two programs is that the Basic version uses If statements and Goto line statements, while Python code uses a while loop.
Find the Coin
This is a guessing game where the player is tasked to find a coin in a 10 by 10 grid. The rows and columns are labeled 0 through 9.
BASIC: Casio fx-702P
10 PRT "FIND THE COIN ($)"
30 A=INT (RAN#*10)
40 B=INT (RAN#*10)
50 C=0
60 PRT "GRID 0-9,0-9"
70 INP "X (0-9)",X
80 INP "Y (0-9)",Y
90 R=ABS (A-X)
100 S=ABS (Y-B)
105 C=C+1
110 IF R=S THEN 200
120 PRT S;" ROW";R;" COL"
150 GOTO 70
200 PRT "YOU FOUND IT!"
210 PRT "SCORE= ";C
PYTHON: Casio fx-CG100
Script: findcoin.py
# find the coin, 10 x 10 grid
from random import *
print("FIND THE COIN")
# random integer from 0 to 9
a=randint(0,9)
b=randint(0,9)
c=0
print("GRID 0-9,0-9")
# set up
r=-1
s=-2
while r!=s:
x=int(input("X 0-9: "))
y=int(input("Y 0-9: "))
r=abs(a-x)
s=abs(b-y)
c+=1
if r==s:
break
print(str(s)+" rows "+str(r)+" col")
print("You found it!")
print("SCORE= ",str(c))
Note: Both numguess.py and findcoin.py use the random module, hence it can be adopted on every calculator with a random module. The HP Prime’s random module is urandom.
Have fun, and modify as you like,
Eddie
All original content copyright, © 2011-2025. Edward Shore. Unauthorized use and/or unauthorized distribution for commercial purposes without express and written permission from the author is strictly prohibited. This blog entry may be distributed for noncommercial purposes, provided that full credit is given to the author.
The author does not use AI engines and never will.